Keeping a 'Governor's preferred plate' in the immediate family | Ask the DMV

Q: My father retired after 20 years of service from the Rhode Island State Police in the mid-1960s. He added another 14 years of service with our town police department as an inspector. His license plate had the letter "I" and his two-digit badge number from the RISP for as long as I can remember. Was this considered a "Governor's Preferred Plate"?

Also, after he passed away, my brother had that plate registered to his vehicle. I'm assuming my mother signed it over. I want to keep that plate in the immediate family.

I would like to have that plate in the event that my brother can no longer drive or passes away.

Can I request that plate or be put on a list at the registry for that plate in the event anything happens to him — without taking someone to court for it, that is?

— Paul F

A: Have you asked your brother about getting the plate back now or in the future? All he would need to do is write you a plate gift letter: “I, XXX, gift to my brother, XXX, the following plate: I-XX.” You would then take that letter, along with a completed TR-1 application for a “Plate Change,” to any DMV branch. Plate changes are $22.50 if they are the same plate type: passenger to passenger, commercial to commercial, etc. Plate gift letters are generally how plates get passed down among family members.

The plate you described is a Governor’s Preferred Plate. It is out of the DMV’s control. Governor’s Preferred Plates are defined as: passenger plates with 1 letter with 1-3 digits; 2 letters with 1-2 digits; and 1-4 digits (1-9999); commercial, combination, motorcycle plates with 1-4 digits (1-9999); and antique plates (1-2000); suburban and veteran plates with 1-3 digits (1-999); and National Guard and public plates with 1-2 digits (1-99). All other registrations and plate types fall under the control of the DMV.

I’m not sure if there is a waiting list for Governor’s Preferred Plates, but you could contact them at Office of the Governor, State House Room 144, 82 Smith St., Providence, RI 02903. Phone: (401) 222-2080. Fax: (401) 222-8096. Email: preferredplates@governor.ri.gov. You could ask about holding the plate if it should become available. There is a whole section on plates on our website, www.dmv.ri.gov.

Chuck Hollis is assistant administrator of the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles. Please email your questions to cars@providencejournal.com with “Ask the DMV” in the subject field.